Reviving this Blog?

It's been a while since I've posted on this Blog.  I've had several jobs out of town and other responsibilities and just haven't kept it up.  But I'm retired now and will hopefully have more time.  I have also transferred my ACS-CERT Liaison position to another LAFD Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) member and he may be interested in helping me maintain this.

Lots of thing have happened in the Emergency Communications / First Responder area in the past few years.  There seems to be much more interest in emergency preparation and emergency communications -- probably because of the recent hurricanes in Texas and Puerto Rico.  BTW, Amateur Radio continued to work in both of the devastated areas.  In fact, Amateur Radio was the only thing that worked reliably for several weeks in Puerto Rico.

Another factor is an influx of inexpensive Chinese made radios -- both Amateur Radio and FRS/GMRS radios, which makes it easier own your first radio and have something  to practice with.  The first Chinese radios imported were awkward and difficult to program, but they worked.  I bought one of the first Wouxun radios available, and although I know others have had problems with them, mine still works fine.  But it's still difficult to program.

And another reason is the increasing popularity of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs being taught all over the country.  You'll learn how to take care of yourself and your family and your neighbors for the first 3 to 10 days you may be without help in a regional or major disaster.  Another good class being taught is "Stop the Bleed" -- how to prevent someone from bleeding out before the professional responders arrive.

So lets see if we can get a revival going here.

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